Cooperation agreements

The meeting of university presidents and rectors, which was also attended by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann, President of Hof University of Applied Sciences, took place as part of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Germany. Meiram Begentayev, President of Satbayev University, represented his university as part of the Kazakh government delegation. Hof University of Applied Sciences now maintains cooperation agreements with a total of nine Kazakh universities and higher education institutions.

Double Degree opens up international perspectives

The agreement between Hof University and Satbayev University focuses on further developing their joint academic offering in Engineering Science. Students will have the opportunity to obtain an academic degree from both partner universities. In addition to their academic training, they will benefit from international study experience and the opportunity to gain practical insights into both Germany and Kazakhstan.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Müller, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Hof University of Applied Sciences, has been involved in the partnership since its beginnings. She sees considerable potential in the cooperation for further internationalising engineering education:

“Satbayev University has a very broad engineering profile and particular expertise, including in mechanical engineering. With the Double Degree, we are creating an attractive opportunity for our students to gain international experience while further strengthening their professional qualifications and language skills. I am very pleased that we can now take our cooperation to the next level. We want to build on the success we have already achieved together in the field of Computer Science.”

International partnerships with tangible benefits

University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann sees the agreement as an important step in the further internationalisation of Hof University:

“International cooperation is particularly valuable when it opens up tangible opportunities for our students. A Double Degree brings together different academic cultures, broadens students’ professional horizons and improves their prospects for pursuing careers in an increasingly international labour market. I am therefore very pleased that we can further deepen our cooperation with Satbayev University.”

Growing university cooperation between Germany and Kazakhstan

The agreement with Hof University was one of several cooperation agreements concluded as part of the meeting of university presidents and rectors involving Kazakh representatives. Other agreements include cooperation with Hochschule Mittweida in areas such as automation, robotics and digital manufacturing, as well as with Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz in the fields of energy and future technologies.

For Hof University, cooperation with Kazakhstan is an integral part of its international network. In 2024, the university had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Double Degree agreement for the Computer Science programme with Satbayev University. At the time, the partners identified student exchange opportunities, joint activities in research and teaching, and, in the longer term, the development of an additional Double Degree programme as key objectives of their cooperation.

Hof University of Applied Sciences also maintains cooperation agreements with the following institutions in Kazakhstan:

Almaty Management University
International Information Technology University JSC
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
M. Auezov South Kazakhstan State University
Maqsut Narikbayev University
Narxoz University
SDU
M.Kh. Dulaty Taraz State University
Kazakh-German Institute for Sustainable Engineering (DKU, Yessenov University)

Around 50 students from Kazakhstan are currently taking advantage of these opportunities.

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Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Müller